Your phone is your connection to the world and you need to carefully compare cell phone service providers to find the best one for your needs. Best Buys compared the two largest carriers: Verizon and Cingular.

Compare Cell Phone Service Providers: Network Coverage

The best provider in the world is useless if you can’t get a signal, so Best Buys considers network coverage the critical feature.

Verizon uses a CMDA network, which provides wider coverage throughout the US particularly in rural areas, but provides limited access in other countries.

Cingular opted for a GSM network. The GSM system provides extensive global coverage. However GSM within the US tends to cover only metropolitan areas so Cingular is available in fewer areas than Verizon.

It is impossible to compare a cell phone service providers’ effectiveness in coverage since networks vary widely over even a few blocks. One of the best things you can do is to find friends who have these providers and ask them about their coverage.

Compare Cell Phone Service Providers: Phones

One of the strongest criticisms of Verizon is their phones. They lag behind the other carriers in implementing technology such as Bluetooth. Their phones use a clumsy interface that Best Buys reviewers disliked.

Cingular has always been on the cutting edge of phone technology. They were the first to offer Motorola’s Razr phones and are the only service to offer Apple’s iPhone.

Compare Cell Phone Service Providers: Unique Features

Verizon claims to have the most reliable network, which appears to be accurate based on consumer studies. They were the first to launch a high-speed 3G data network for fast Internet connection. They launched the first mobile TV network.

Cingular offers rollover minutes so users can carry unused minutes for up to a year, however their monthly plan offers fewer minutes than other carriers. They offer analog roaming, which Verizon does not.

Best Buys Choice

Verizon offers the widest network and is probably the best choice for most Best Buys readers. If you travel out of the country, Cingular (who is in the process of re-branding as AT&T) would be the Best Buys recommendation. Click here to see the FREE cell phone offers for both networks.